EP3995318A1 - Data carrier for a security or value document with a magnetic security feature - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a data carrier (20) for a security or valuable document (32), which has a plurality of layers (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and security features (25, 26, 27, 28), with at least one Layer is a magnetic layer (12), the layers (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) form a composite body (30) and the magnetic layer (12) has three-dimensional, topologically protected magnetic structures (17), wherein the magnetic structures (17) are skyrmions. (See Figure 1)

Description

The present invention relates to a data carrier for a security document or document of value, which consists of several layers and has a magnetic security feature, a method for its production and a method for checking the authenticity of such a data carrier.

It is known to produce data carriers for security or valuable documents in the form of card-shaped documents by lamination from a number of layers.

For example, from the EP 2 205 436 B1 discloses a process for producing a composite body for a security or valuable document with a first and a second polymer layer made of polycarbonate based on bisphenol A, and the coating of intermediate layers with a preparation containing solvents and a polycarbonate, laying on a second layer and laminating the layer package.

Data carriers are equipped with security features to protect against manipulation. These can be traditional and proven security features, such as guilloches - increasingly also high-tech solutions, such as optically variable and machine-readable elements.

As with ID cards, security features are integrated into products at different levels and layers so that they can complement each other and increase security.

After security documents are often forged by manipulating the photographs, for example by overprinting, photographs are equipped with additional security features or the data of the photograph is duplicated in a further security feature such as an electronic chip or a hologram.

However, the chips are often destroyed or made unreadable by the counterfeiters, so that the authenticity of the photograph or other data on the Data medium cannot be detected via the electronic component.

It would therefore be desirable if data carriers with photographs could be checked for authenticity without having to access the data stored on the chip.

In principle, security features are particularly secure if they are duplicated or multiplied by other, preferably complex, manufacturing processes, since the counterfeiters then have to invest a great deal of effort in creating the forgery with the duplicated security feature. In addition, the production of counterfeits is made particularly difficult if the additional security feature can only be produced with great effort.

the DE 10 318 103 A1 relates to security documents having a security feature formed by a magneto-optical storage area of a ferromagnetic material (such as terbium-iron-cobalt at about 270°C) heated above the Curie temperature by a laser.

Programmable hardware based on magnetic skyrmions is from Maohammad Nazmus Sakib et al. in "Spintronics XIII. International Society of Optics and Photonics", 2020, p. 114703D , described. The production of skyrmions without an external magnetic field is from Yao Guang et al. in "Nature Communications (2020) 11:949 " described.

It would also be desirable if another security feature could be provided in the form of a class 1 feature, so that it can be recognized, for example, by a patrol officer, if necessary with the aid of simple tools.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying data carriers for security or valuable documents with security features that are secured against manipulation and are also suitable for duplicating security features, to provide a method for producing such data carriers and to specify a method for checking the authenticity of such data carriers.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features of the claim 1, 13 and 14 solved.

The data carrier according to the invention has a plurality of layers connected to one another to form a composite body, at least one layer being a magnetic layer and the magnetic layer having three-dimensional, topologically protected magnetic structures.

These magnetic structures are skyrmions. Skyrmions are highly precise about 100 nm small three-dimensional structures, namely light-matter interactions with magnetic structures that are shape-invariant and can be used for magnetic imaging.

Skyrmions behave like particles or quasi-particles of finite mass and occur in thin magnetic layers.

According to the invention, the skyrmions can be generated by means of soft X-rays, in particular without an external magnetic field and/or at room temperature, in particular at 21.degree.

Skyrmions can be generated in magnetically thin layers using soft X-rays. Due to the high spatial resolution of soft X-rays, the short wavelength of a few nanometers and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, soft X-rays are used for magnetic imaging. Single skyrmions with a size of 100 nm could be generated with soft X-rays without an external magnetic field and at room temperature ( Yoa Guang et. al. in "Nature Communications" (2020) 11:949 ).

By moving the X-ray beam over the magnetically thin layer, skyrmions can be written into the magnetic layer and geometric patterns can thus be generated, cf. Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems " A stroke of luck in the research field of magnetism", April 21, 2020, https://is.mpg.de/de/news/serendipity-in-the-research-field-of-magnetism .

By arranging these magnetic structures in a row, it is thus possible to create geometric patterns in the magnetic layer, for example in the form of points, lines, surface sections, symbols, letters, numbers or images.

In principle, the geometric patterns can be both macroscopic patterns and microscopic patterns. Macroscopic patterns can be made visible using simple means such as detection foils.

Microscopic patterns, on the other hand, can only be made visible with special, complex detection devices such as X-ray microscopes.

Depending on the intended use, the invention thus opens up both the possibility of simple detection of a macroscopic magnetic image and complex detection of a microscopic magnetic image, in particular in the micrometer or nanometer range.

The magnetic structures or skyrmions can form an independent security feature that is independent of the other security features.

A preferred embodiment provides for other security features of the security document to be duplicated in the magnetic layer in the form of the magnetic structures. Thus, during the authenticity check, one security feature can be compared with the security feature duplicated in the magnetic structure, and a forgery can thus be detected, if necessary.

In a particularly preferred variant, the data carrier has a photograph and/or a hologram and the photograph is additionally protected by the magnetic image/pattern from the magnetic structures.

In a further particularly preferred variant, the data carrier also has a hologram that duplicates the light image, so that the light image, hologram and magnetic image can be compared with one another and the light image is duplicated twice, so to speak.

The magnetic image/pattern can be placed in the same or a different substrate layer than the light image and/or hologram be.

Thus, in addition to the light image and/or the hologram, a magnetic image of the light image and/or the hologram can be applied to the data carrier as a further image.

In addition to the photo, other personal data, other data such as name, date of birth, date of issue, issuing authority, document number, national symbols, etc. or parts thereof can also be duplicated in the magnetic structures in the data carrier.

Even if the magnetic layer is topologically protected, it preferably has at least one cover layer. The top layer can be made of plastic such as polycarbonate, but also of a paint.

The top layer or layers overlying the magnetic layer must be non-magnetic. Its layer thickness must be so small that it is possible to detect the magnetic pattern/image in the magnetic layer on the visible side of the data carrier through the cover layer with the respective detection means.

The thickness of the top layer above the magnetic layer is preferably between 0.05 mm and 0.2 mm, and more preferably between 0.08 mm and 0.12 mm.

The area of the cover layer above the magnetic layer can be transparent, translucent or also opaque.

The thickness of the magnetic layer should be smaller than the layer thickness of the top layer so that the shape of the magnetic layer is not visible to the outside. Preferably, the magnetic layer is a magnetic thin layer. The layer thickness of the magnetic layer should be between 0.02 mm and 0.20 mm.

The area of the magnetic layer can vary depending on the purpose (microscopic or macroscopic magnetic image/pattern). The area of the magnetic layer can, for example, encompass the entire card area.

Preferably, the magnetic layer is completely covered by the surrounding layers, the top layer and the layer located below the magnetic layer.

At least some of the layers of the data carrier should be made of plastic, such as polycarbonate, so that the layers of the data carrier can be laminated to form a composite under pressure and an increase in temperature.

The macroscopic magnetic image can be easily analyzed with a magnetic detection device such as a flux detection foil. A flux detection foil is a special foil with enclosed iron or nickel particles that makes the magnetic flux visible. Such flux detection foils can be used for the detection of field line images with larger magnetized areas. For example, the magnetic image of facial contours can be reproduced on the flux detection film by means of various magnetic "heaps" arranged in a punctiform manner.

Flux detection foils are easy to handle and flexible, so that they can be placed on the data carrier, for example. They can be placed on the data carrier on site, e.g. by the patrolman, and the field line image can thus be read out.

If the field line image detected with the flux detection foil corresponds to the photo and/or the hologram, then the data carrier is genuine. If the field line image does not correspond to the photo, then there is a forgery.

Another advantage is that the new security feature can be hidden in the data carrier and only made visible through a flux detection film.

In the further preferred variant of the present invention with the microscopic skyrmion arrangements in the nanometer or micrometer range stored in the magnetic layer, in which personal data of the document holder, or other data are stored in such smallest three-dimensional structures, the detection cannot generally be carried out with a Flux detection film done. Such structures can, however, with high-resolution X-ray microscopes, in particular with the scanning transmission X-ray microscopy, are made visible.

The size of the pattern deposited on the magnetic layer can thus also determine the type of subsequent detection and thus also the effort required to read out the data.

In principle, any pictorial or written security feature can be duplicated in the magnetic layer. One advantage is that the new security feature has to be produced using a completely new process that is not available to counterfeiters.

The data carrier comprises one or more layers of polymers from the group consisting of polycarbonate, bisphenol A polycarbonate, carboxy-modified PC, polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), its derivatives such as glycol-modified PET (PETG), carboxy-modified PET, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) , vinylic polymers such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl phenol (PVP), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyacrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyamide, polyurethane, Polyurea, polyimide or thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), in particular thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS). In addition to the magnetic layer, other layers made of paper and/or cardboard and/or glass and/or ceramic and/or metal, but also RFID chips or electronic elements, can be laminated into these layers.

The layers preferably consist of PC, PET and/or PVC. The polymers can be either filled or unfilled. In the latter case, they are preferably transparent or translucent. If the polymers are filled, they are opaque. The above information relates both to films to be bonded together and to liquid formulations that are applied to a preliminary product, such as a protective coating or top coat. The document is preferably produced from 3 to 12, preferably 4 to 10 substrate layers (foils), preferably using a lamination process in which the substrate layers are fused together under the action of pressure and heat. The individual foils can consist of the same material or of different materials. Overlay layers formed in this way protect a security feature arranged underneath and/or give the document the required abrasion resistance.

Security documents within the scope of the present invention are, for example, identity cards, passports, ID cards, access control IDs, visas, tax stamps, tickets, driving licenses, vehicle documents, banknotes, checks, postage stamps, credit cards, any chip cards and adhesive labels (e.g. for product security). Such security and/or value documents typically have at least one data carrier consisting of several layers including a printed layer and optionally a transparent cover layer.

The invention also relates to a method for producing such a data carrier, in which a magnetic layer, preferably a magnetically thin layer, is provided and the data to be stored in the magnetic layer in the form of magnetic structures are selected, then the data based on the data to be stored are selected magnetic structures in the magnetic layer are generated (written) by means of X-rays and/or without an external magnetic field and/or at room temperature, in particular at 21° C., the layers including the magnetic layer are stacked and the layers are then connected to form a layer composite, for example by means of lamination.

In a preferred variant, at least one of the layers is a layer with a light image and/or another layer is a layer with a hologram, and the selection of the data to be stored in the magnetic layer is based directly or indirectly on data of the light image and/or of the hologram.

Since the fabrication of macroscopic, nano- or micrometer-scale geometric patterns has been magnetic layers using soft X-rays is very time-consuming and complex, such security features are difficult to counterfeit.

Counterfeiting these security features is also made more difficult if they duplicate other security features or data.

• Figur 1 einen Schnitt durch einen Datenträger mit mehreren Schichten und mit einem makroskopischen Muster in der magnetischen Schicht mit Skyrmionen,
• Figur 2 die Draufsicht auf den Datenträger aus Figur 1,
• Figur 3 einen Schnitt durch die magnetische Schicht mit den magnetischen Strukturen/Skyrmionen und
• Figur 4 eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Datenträgers mit mikroskopischen Mustern im Mikro- oder Nanometerbereich.

The invention and other advantageous embodiments and developments thereof are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the examples shown in the drawings. The features to be found in the description and the drawings can be used according to the invention individually or collectively in any combination. Show it:

• figure 1 a section through a data carrier with multiple layers and with a macroscopic pattern in the magnetic layer with skyrmions,
• figure 2 the top view of the disk figure 1 ,
• figure 3 a section through the magnetic layer with the magnetic structures/skyrmions and
• figure 4 another embodiment of a data carrier with microscopic patterns in the micron or nanometer range.

figure 1 shows several layers 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, which are connected to one another to form a composite body 30 by lamination. The layers 11, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are made of a plastic material, preferably polycarbonate. The layer 12 is a magnetic layer with three-dimensional magnetic structures 17 that are topologically protected. These magnetic structures 17 are skyrmions that were generated in the magnetic layer 12 by means of soft X-rays.

By arranging many of these magnetic structures or skyrmions 17 in a row, macroscopic patterns 26 can be generated, which figure 2 in the form of a magnetic image/pattern 26 of the document holder's facial contours.

These macroscopic patterns 26 of skyrmions 17 can be made visible using suitable means such as a magnetic detection foil.

In general, the portrait of the document holder is stored on the data carrier 20 in the form of a photograph 25 and possibly also as a hologram 27, as is shown schematically in figure 2 shown. In order to make forgery more difficult, the photograph 25 and hologram 27 are preferably in different layers 14, 15 or in several layers, and the portrait of the document holder shown in the photograph 25 is duplicated as a hologram 27 in another layer 14 of the data carrier 20.

In this embodiment, the portrait is also stored in the form of the facial contours as a magnetic pattern 26 in the magnetic layer 12, i.e. the photograph 25 is duplicated twice in the data carrier 20 and is thus protected twice against forgery.

After the portrait of the document owner is stored in the data carrier 20 in the form of a photograph 25 in a first layer 15, in the form of a hologram 27 in a second layer 14 and in the form of a magnetic image 26 in the magnetic layer 12, the data carrier 20 has three Corresponding, physically different, security features produced using different processes and detectable using different methods/means, which can be compared with one another.

In principle, the magnetic layer 12 can be optically recognizable, i.e. in particular it can be covered by a transparent or translucent area 18 of the cover layer 11. The visibility of the location of the magnetic layer 12 is desired if, for example, a patrol officer is to locate and check this security feature in the data carrier 20 .

In a further variant, the magnetic layer 12 is covered with an opaque layer, so that the position of the magnetic layer 12 cannot be found optically.

Since the production of the magnetic structures 17 in the magnetic layers 12 with soft X-ray radiation is also very complex and a forgery is made even more difficult by duplicating the portrait once or twice any forgers to produce a forgery operate an immense multiple effort.

In figure 4 a further embodiment of the data carrier 20 according to the invention with a magnetic layer 12 with magnetic structures 17 which have microscopic geometric patterns 28 in the micrometer or nanometer range is shown schematically. In this case, the area of the magnetic layer 12 is very small, for example only 1 mm ² .

They can only be made visible with very complex detection devices such as an X-ray microscope.

The microscopic magnetic patterns 28 created in the magnetic layer 12 are much smaller than 1000 micrometers, in particular between 100 nm and 800 micrometers in size.

If the magnetic layer 12 is of a microscopic size, it can be integrated into the data carrier 20 in such a way that it is virtually invisible. This can be done, for example, by positioning the tiny magnetic layer 12 at the location of the federal eagle, for example, where it is difficult to perceive optically. In such a variant, the cover layer 11 can be transparent.

In addition, the magnetic layer 12 of a microscopic size can of course also be covered by an opaque non-magnetic layer.

The disk 20 in figure 4 has a photograph 25 and printed data 29 next to the tiny magnetic layer 12 . In figure 4 the printed data 29, the light image 25 and the magnetic layer 12 are each in a different layer in order to make counterfeiting even more difficult.

The printed data 29 or parts of the printed data 29 are stored in the magnetic layer 12 as magnetic patterns 28 in the nanometer or micrometer range. Thus, the printed data in the magnetic layer 12 is also duplicated.

This enables authenticity features or repeated data of the security document to be recorded on a microscopic, quasi-invisible surface to represent. <b>Reference List</b> 11. (top) layer 33 12. magnetic layer 34 13. layer 35 14 layer 36 15 layer 37 16 layer 38 17 magnetic structures, skyrmions 39 18 Area above 17 40 19 41 20 disk 42 21 visible side 43 22 44 23 45 24 46 25 photograph 47 26 magnetic image/pattern 48 (macroscopic) 27 hologram 49 28 magnetic image/pattern (microscopic, micro/nano range) 50 29 printed data 51 30 composite body 52 31 53 32 security or value document 54

Claims (15)

Data carrier (20) for a security or value document (32), which has a plurality of layers (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and security features (25, 26, 27, 28), at least one layer having a magnetic layer (12), the layers (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) form a composite body (30) and the magnetic layer (12) has three-dimensional, topologically protected magnetic structures (17), characterized in that the magnetic Structures (17) are skyrmions. Data carrier (20) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the skyrmions are generated by means of soft X-rays and in particular without an external magnetic field and/or at room temperature, in particular at 21° C. Data carrier (20) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the magnetic structures (17) form geometric patterns (26, 28), in particular in the form of points, lines, surface sections, symbols, letters, numbers, images and the geometric patterns (26, 28), in particular macroscopic patterns (26) or microscopic patterns (28), in particular in the micrometer or nanometer range. Data carrier (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the magnetic structures (17) form at least one security feature (26, 28) and/or that the magnetic structures (17) form security features (25, 27) of the data carrier (20 ) duplicate. Data carrier (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data carrier (20) comprises a photograph (25) and/or a hologram (27) as a further security feature and the magnetic structures (17) comprise the photograph (25) and/or or the hologram (27) duplicated. Data carrier (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data carrier (20) includes personal data and/or other data and/or national symbols and these or parts thereof are duplicated by the magnetic structures (17). Data carrier (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the magnetic layer (12) at least one Top layer (11), in particular made of plastic or paint, is applied. Data carrier (20) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the thickness of the cover layer (11) above the magnetic layer (12) is between 0.05 mm and 0.20 mm and preferably between 0.08 mm and 0.12 mm. Data carrier (20) according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, characterized in that the region of the cover layer (11) located above the magnetic layer (12) is transparent, translucent or opaque. Data carrier (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the magnetic layer (17) is completely enclosed by the surrounding layers (11, 13) and/or that the magnetic layer (12) is a magnetically thin layer and/or the layer thickness of the magnetic layer (12) is between 0.02 mm and 0.20 mm. Data carrier (20) according to one of Claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the thickness of the magnetic layer (12) is less than the thickness of the cover layer (11). Data carrier (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one or more layers (11, 13, 14, 15, 16) made of polymers from the group consisting of polycarbonate, bisphenol A polycarbonate, carboxy-modified PC, polyester such as Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), its derivatives such as glycol-modified PET (PETG), carboxy-modified PET, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), vinylic polymers such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polystyrene (PS ), polyvinylphenol (PVP), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyacrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyamide, polyurethane, polyurea, polyimide or thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), in particular thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) are. Method for checking the magnetic structures (17) in the magnetic layer of a data carrier (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the checking of the magnetic structures (17) in the magnetic image (26, 28) by means of a magnetic Detection film or by means of an X-ray microscope. Method for producing data carriers (20) for security or value documents (32) from several layers (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16), characterized by the following features: providing a magnetic layer (12), Selection of the data to be stored in the magnetic layer (12), Production of the magnetic structures (17) based on the data to be stored in the magnetic layer (12) by means of soft X-rays, and in particular without an external magnetic field and/or at room temperature, in particular at 21 °C, Stacking the layers (11, 13, 14, 15, 16) and the magnetic layer (12) into a stack, Connecting the layers (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) to form a layered composite. Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that at least one layer (14) is provided with a light image (25) and/or hologram (27) and the selection of the data to be stored in the magnetic layer (12) is based directly or indirectly on data from the Light image (25) and/or the hologram (27) is based.

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